When Michael Doughterly recently purchased his house on Congress Street in Marion he found he had more than just a new home. After the purchase, he discovered two tombstones in his new backyard. Looking for help on what to do, Doughterly contacted Susan Matthews, President of the Marion Genealogy Society and member of the Friends of Marion Cemeteries and OGS Cemetery Committees.
The stones read “John R. Jett 1870-1920” and “JA Richardson 1843-1925”. Matthews did research on these two individuals finding that the Auditor’s Office, Recorder’s Office, and local City directories could not confirm that anyone with these two surnames ever lived at that address. Further research found proof of burial in two different cemeteries in Logan County.
A direct descendant of the family, Bethann Armstrong, was located and was able to confirm that both of these stones were duplicate tombstones.
Matthews said she learned the two gentlemen each died prior to their wives. When their wives later passed, new stones were made including the names of both the husband and the wife. Jett and Richardson were connected by a marriage.
These two stones were first relocated to a location on State Route 4 and then later to Congress Street. Matthews said that final transfer of the stones explains why the initial search was unsuccessful.
Neither the Armstrong family nor Doughterly wish to keep the stones and the family has okayed their destruction. The stones have been temporarily relocated (pictured) to the Matthews residence pending final contact of a second descendant.
Matthews reports that Doughterly’s discovery is not unique in the area. She is working on compiling an index and picture database of all of the tombstones in Marion County. If anyone knows of any “lost” cemeteries or stones found such as in a farmer’s field, Matthews asks that you contact her at 740-360-3977 or [email protected].
Matthews wanted to give special thanks to Keith Kohler, Jeff Watson, Lisa Carlyle, Dodi Mawer, Deb Allison of the Logan County Genealogy Society, Bethann Armstrong, the Auditor’s Office, and the Recorder’s Office who all helped with this project at some point.
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